Finally Home (Home Series)

by Vaughn, Ann

"I am fine, Commander. I am just a little bit pregnant."

  She heard several gasps behind him but kept her eyes on his face, that had suddenly gone just a little bit pale.

  "Come again?"

  "They told me when I was in the hospital after getting shot. I kept it to myself because there was concern that I would miscarry due to the trauma. And since we aren't married, they weren't obligated to tell you, and I asked them not to. But when I went for my checkup the other day for my shoulder, I had an ultrasound done," she pulled her phone from her pocket and showed him a picture. "Can you see that?" She watched those intense eyes shift from her to the phone to study the black and white ultrasound picture, and saw the instant he realized what else he was looking at.

  "Is that...?"

  "It is."

  "Really?"

  "Really."

  "Really, what?" her mother demanded.

  Mike looked up from the phone to see both their parents just behind Lainey. He swallowed hard and cleared his throat.

  "Twins," he announced, causing more gasps.

  "Good thing you're already engaged," Gavin Riley said, glaring down at Mike. "I'd hate to have to get my shotgun out."

  Everyone laughed. Mike pulled Lainey into his arms, holding her tight, his face buried in her hair, clinging to her. How could someone so small come to mean so very much to him? She was everything. His reason to breathe. Everything.

  Sarah sat next to Colt's bed, holding his hand in hers. She'd just left the nursery, where she'd gotten the thrill of holding her baby boy and feeding him. He was still tiny, but he was getting bigger and stronger every single day. Every day, she thanked God that her baby had been spared so many of the difficulties that the other preemie's in the NICU seemed plagued with. His lungs were strong. His heart was strong. Everything was progressing along as it should with no difficulties. When she'd held him close to her heart today, it had been a very bittersweet moment. She'd cried happy tears for herself and for him, and sad, heartbroken tears, wanting Colt to be there with her.

  When she'd come into his room, she'd been on a high from holding their son. She talked to him non-stop while she worked his arms and legs. She'd taken his electric beard trimmer and trimmed his beard, keeping the scruff that she loved so much on his cheeks. His hair was growing back in from when they'd shaved it in the OR, but it was still short enough that she didn't have to worry with it.

  Now, spent, she lay on her side pressed against him. Her ear was over his heart; it's strong, steady beat comforting her, but bringing tears to her eyes. The doctors said that all medication to keep him under was out of his system. Now, it was just a matter of when he wanted to wake up. That was what was hard. Waiting. She needed to see his eyes. That was when she would know that he would be all right; when she could look into those warm brown eyes and...

  She gasped and looked up when a warm hand settled on the top of her head and then cried out when she saw those eyes on her.

  "Hi, baby," she whispered, sitting up to look down at him. He still had the tube in his mouth so couldn't speak, but she could see the confusion in his eyes, especially when he reached down to place his hand on her now soft belly. "A lot has happened since you've been asleep. But, he's here now. He's in NICU because he's so small, but, baby, he's fine. He's growing by the minute and is blowing the doctors and nurses away with how healthy he is." She took her phone from her pocket and showed him a picture. "Look at all that dark hair. Just like his daddy," she said, wiping a tear from his cheek as he looked at his son for the first time. She reached over for the call button to bring the nurses in so they could check him out and get that awful tube from his mouth. When they came in, she leaned down to kiss his brow then stepped back to let them do their thing, sending a group text to all their loved ones to let them know that Colt was awake.

  Chapter Thirty-Eight

  The time between when Lainey told Mike about the babies, and Colt awakening to their wedding day, June 24th, seemed to fly by to Lainey. Colt and Baby Chris were released from the hospital on the same day. Both were getting stronger by the day. Colt was determined to not let the bullet in his head get the better of him. He'd had a hard time walking right at first, but with Aubrey's help, he'd gotten to where he was now walking with just the aid of a cane, and it wouldn't be long before he wouldn't even need that.

  True to his word, Mike had flown them, along with Kacee and her boyfriend Connor, to a Devil's Lair concert in New York, where they sat in the front row. When the concert was over, Mike held tight to Lainey's hand and led her and Connor and Kacee backstage. The first to greet them was Oscar, Jack Lair's bodyguard, who worked for Mike as part of Orion Securities. Lainey knew that he was one of Colt and Tessa's Army buddies; she'd been in Colt's hospital room when Oscar had called to check on him once Colt was awake. He and Mike shook hands and while Oscar was updating Mike on all that had happened with Jack and Leila's security troubles, the couple themselves came out to greet them..

  "Oh, wow," Kacee whispered, and Lainey couldn't help the giggle that escaped at hearing her friend's star-struck tone. Kacee had always had a thing for the gorgeous lead singer of Devil's Lair.

  Mike's gaze shifted from Oscar to Jack and Leila. Lainey saw Leila's eyes widen slightly as she looked up at him, so she stepped forward and put her hand on Mike's arm, causing him to look down at her. She smiled at the intensity in his gaze and knew that Leila was reacting to the scowl that Oscar's report had put on his face.

  "Kill the ice, Commander," she said, making him smile. She shifted her gaze from him to Leila, noticing that up close, Leila bore a striking resemblance to Sarah Harris. "You'll have to excuse Mike," she said to Leila, "he forgets he isn't in the Navy anymore at times."

  They all shared a laugh at Mike's expense and then Jack and Leila invited them all to go to their favorite New York City nightclub, Granite. Lainey and Kacee felt an instant connection to Leila, almost as if she were a long-lost friend, and found they had no shortage of things to talk about during the ride to the club and once they were inside.

  While Jack was telling everyone about a few of their more interesting shows and things he'd seen while on stage, Mike shifted his focus to the beautiful Leila.

  "May I speak with you a moment?" he asked her and he could clearly see she was a bit surprised, so he tried to remember Lainey's advice and keep his eyes and face calm.

  "Yeah, sure," she replied, and he led her two steps away from the table, though still keeping Lainey within acceptable reaching distance.

  "I spoke with Jack earlier about the two of you performing at our wedding next month, and I wondered if you would indulge me in a special song for Lainey, for our first dance together."

  "That's so sweet," she said with a smile, "and of course, I will. What song would you like for me to sing?" He glanced briefly at Lainey, then proceeded to tell Leila of his request and why it was so special to him. He could tell from the smile on her face that she approved of his choice, but he asked her if it would be a song she'd be willing to sing, just to be sure. "Absolutely," she answered, "and I am sure she will love that you thought of that for her."

  That had been mid-May. Lainey couldn't believe how fast the time had flown, but now, it was her wedding day, and she stood in her old bedroom with her mother, Mike's mother, Kacee and Gia, putting the final touches to her makeup. Thankfully, even though she was starting to show just slightly, her dress was loose enough that no one could tell. She loved her dress. It was ivory satin, one-shoulder strap, form-fitting but sleek and simple and elegant.

  They were getting married in her parents' backyard. It was a simple ceremony. Just their families and a few of their closest friends, which is the way Lainey wanted it. Their mothers had fought for a huge society wedding, but once Mike found out that she was pregnant, he stepped in and the mothers backed off. She was getting the wedding that she wanted and he made it clear that no one would take that from her.

  "You look absolutely lovely," Jeannette said when Lisa finishe
d putting the veil on Lainey's head.

  "Thank you," she said, embracing her soon-to-be mother-in-law.

  A knock sounded on the door and her dad stepped in, smiling at them.

  "Ladies, it's time," he announced. The moms and Gia left. Kacee gave Lainey a quick embrace and then she stepped out, leaving Lainey with her dad for a moment.

  "You look absolutely stunning, baby," he said, kissing her cheek.

  "Thanks, Daddy."

  "You make sure he takes good care of you, OK?"

  "He will."

  Gavin nodded. "You ready to do this?"

  "Absolutely!" she said on a giggle.

  As they got to the back door, Lainey froze. Mike had told her long ago that he was taking care of the music arrangements. What she saw took her breath away. Standing just in front of Mike, was none other than Jack Lair, strumming on an acoustic guitar!

  "Oh, wow!" she gasped, making Kacee turn and smile, since Lainey had echoed Kacee's words from the night they'd first met Jack and Leila.

  "Guess we know what they were conspiring about after the concert now."

  Tears stung her eyes when they stepped out and Jack began singing. It was the song he'd written for Leila, who was now his wife. The first time she and Mike had heard the song, The Reason I Am on the radio, they'd frozen...then immediately purchased it on iTunes. Jack may have written it with his own wife in mind, but Mike and Lainey both felt as if he were singing about their lives. Two verses in particular stood out to them:

  Baby you’re the reason I am.

  Oh baby you’re the reason I am.

  I need you to breathe, to walk on this earth.

  You’re my sole purpose, my cause for rebirth.

  Stay with me baby. Please don’t leave.

  My love for you is endless. You’re my reason to be.

  I know I deserve less, than your soul and your heart.

  But I’d rather die now, than for us to part.

  I can’t guarantee a life free of pain.

  But I’ll protect you always, every second and each day.

  There isn’t a doubt, my love runs so deep.

  With the blood in my veins, it controls my heartbeat. ©A.M. Madden

  She absolutely loved that Mike had done this for her; that this was the song he'd chosen to be played as she walked up the aisle to him. Her eyes locked on Mike's intense gaze as she and her father made their way to him. When they got to him, her dad kissed the back of her hand and then placed it in Mike's, and they stood, hand-in-hand, listening while Jack finished the song. When he hit the last note, Lainey's eyes widened and she squeezed Mike's hand. The babies had chosen that moment to move for the first time!

  The ceremony went by in a blur. They spoke when prompted. Exchanged rings. But nothing seemed quite real until the pastor told Mike he could kiss her and she felt his lips on hers. Everything seemed to settle in that moment. After he pulled back, she looked up into those pale blue eyes, the eyes of her Commander, and knew she'd never loved him more than she did at that very moment.

  When they were announced as Mr. and Mrs. Michael Lorenzo Casiano, they walked up the aisle back into the house where they were to wait until they were called back out for their first dance. They stood in the shadows in the family room, wrapped tight in each other's arms.

  "I love you, Commander," she said, looking up into his eyes.

  "I love you, too, cara mia," he said, leaning down to kiss her. "Mrs. Casiano."

  Her smiled brightened, if that were at all possible.

  "Mrs. Casiano has a nice ring to it, but I have a bone to pick with you! How in the world did you pull off bringing Jack and Leila here? Weren't they on their honeymoon? And I cannot believe she didn't tell me! We text each other almost every day!!"

  He smiled. "Why do you think I insisted we have the wedding closer to the end of June rather than the beginning as you'd first said."

  "You are pretty sneaky," she said, laughing.

  "I have my moments."

  Over the microphone outside, they heard Jack's voice, turning their attention.

  "Ladies and Gentlemen, I have the honor of announcing Mr. and Mrs. Mike Casiano, for their first dance together."

  "That's our cue," Mike said, kissing her brow.

  He opened the door and they stepped out and made their way to the dance floor, amongst applause from their guests. Lainey smiled as she saw Colt, Sarah and Baby Chris and Trevor sitting beside the beautiful Aubrey. Mike led her to the center of the dance floor and they stood hand-in-hand, looking to the stage, where Leila now stood at the microphone.

  "When I spoke to Mike about what song he would like for their first dance, he told me a story about some of the things he'd gone through as part of the Navy. Things that gave him nightmares, and how one night, after a particularly intense nightmare, Lainey sang this song to him. It happens to be one of my favorites as well, and I am honored to sing this for you both now," she nodded to Jack who began to softly play on his guitar. Mike smiled and crooked his finger at Lainey, who stepped willingly into his arms as Leila's sultry voice began to sing:

  "Love Me Tender

  Love me sweet,

  Never let me go.

  You have made my life complete

  And I love you so.

  Love me tender

  Love me true

  All my dreams fulfilled

  For my darlin', I love you

  And I always will."

  Lainey was finally dancing with her Commander. He kissed her fingertips several times during their dance. She knew for the rest of her life, she would never forget how he looked just then, those ice blue eyes no longer quite so icy. Thoughts of him and how he'd looked that first night she saw him in his dress white uniform at the Founders Day Ball all those years ago flooded her. All the fantasies she'd had of him over the years; none of them compared to being here in his arms.

  Mike looked into the emerald depths of his Lainey's eyes as they listened to Leila Lair sing the song that they'd come to identify as their own. He thought of all the years he'd spent fighting, and the years since he'd left the Navy just drifting. He hadn't known at the time what he was missing in his life, but now, with her in his arms, their babies growing inside her, he knew that his life was complete. With her help, the demons that had threatened to eat him up inside no longer controlled him. He hadn't had a single nightmare since the one he'd had foreshadowing the shooting. Lainey's love for him had saved him in more ways than one. Looking into her eyes, dancing with her now before their friends and family, Mike Casiano knew that for the first time in his adult life, he was finally home.

  Epilogue

  Ten Years Later...

  "Daddy!" a little voice called, and nine heads turned to see whose kid the voice belonged to.

  "That would be yours, Malibu Ken," Colt chuckled, seeing Sydney Stanton running up the back steps of Mike and Lainey's house.

  Riley stood and scooped little Sydney up before she slipped on the steps, tossing her high in the air and making her squeal in delight.

  "What's the matter, Syd?"

  "The big boys are being mean."

  "No one likes a tattle-tale, Syd!" her big brother Jace called out.

  "Boys, be nice!" Jenna called out.

  "Of course we won't," Chris called back, making his dad chuckle.

  "Oh, yeah, he's your son, all right," Tessa said.

  "What are you implying?" Colt asked, faking innocence.

  "Just what I...Gabriel Shane, don't even think about it!" she called, seeing Gabe about to push Mike and Lainey's daughter into the pool. Her name was Katherine, named after Lainey's best friend Kacee, but they called her CoCo because of her dark hair. She was two years younger than her older twin brothers, Gage and Ridge.

  Lainey stood off to the side, watching everyone. They all had come to their house for the 4th of July. It was amazing to see how all these big, strong men had settled down and become family men. She and Mike had their three. Riley and Jenna had Cam,
who was now twenty and the hottest thing going in the Motocross world; and then their two boys Jace and Ryan and little Sydney. Colt and Sarah had Chris, and a daughter named Charlie (named after Sarah's mother, Charlotte), and another son named Chase. Shane and Tessa had Gabriel and their daughter, Jessica. Coop and Claire had AnnaKate and Olivia, and their son Jackson. Whit and Melissa had Petey and a little girl named Zoe. And Lainey's three cousins, Jack, Trevor and Aaron all had little ones of their own now, too.

  She watched Colt get up and run after the boys who were out of the water. He was doing remarkably well for someone who had a bullet lodged in his brain still, ten years later. The main noticeable trace left from the bullet was a white streak in his hair where the bullet entered...a streak he wore with pride and refused to color. She didn't blame him. It was a good reminder of what had happened that day. Charles Conroy had eventually died of his injuries; they never did figure out how he got around Colt's security system to enter the building. Melissa had run through all sorts of checks and came up empty. When Colt recovered and was back to full capacity, he ran over all the checks as well and never found how the system had been bypassed. Charles had never regained consciousness so they'd never had the chance to ask.

  Mike came up behind her, wrapping his arms around her and kissing her neck.

  "What are you thinking about?" he asked softly.

  "How much we've all changed over the years. Look at Colt. You'd never guess he had a bullet in his brain right now. He barely limps at all any more."

  "Only when he's really tired. I never would have guessed we'd all end up like this. All those years we were hunkered down in the desert...none of us ever talked about having families. We talked about women...but never families."

  "And now look at you."

  "Now look at us. Changed diapers. Cleaned up puke. Pulled teeth. Played tea party. You name it. We've all done it."

  "You're all really good daddies."

  "Except for Aaron," Trevor said, as he walked by, "he won't even change a dirty diaper."